Matisse back on TV for Royal Variety bash

Blackpool-born dog trainer Jules O’Dwyer and her canine pal Matisse will perform at the Royal Albert Hall in front of Prince Harry, it has been confirmed.

The double act won this year’s Britain’s Got Talent, with the prize a slot in the annual Royal Variety Performance - this year hosted by comic and actor Jack Whitehall.

Jules’s win with Matisse prompted controversy when it emerged a second dog took part in their final-winning sketch for the ITV talent show, crossing a high wire because Matisse was too nervous to complete that part of their stunt.

ITV agreed to refund ‘misled’ viewers who had paid to vote for the act, or would donate the money to charity, after broadcasting watchdog Ofcom ruled that ‘ITV broke broadcasting rules by misleading viewers during the series finale’.

A total of 1,175 complaints came in about the act, with viewers expressing their outrage that Matisse had not performed the tightrope stunt, the most spectacular element of the winning sketch.

Now billed as Jules, Matisse and Friends, they will appear at the star-studded spectacular on Friday, November 13, with a TV broadcast scheduled for December.

Alos set to appear are singers Elton John, Kylie Minogue, One Direction and Little Mix, with more comedy from Chris Ramsey, Romesh Ranganathan and Matt Forde.